Findlay Brewing Company (Findlay, OH)

~ “Mac and Cheese” ~

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Presentation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you saw this image on the wall of an art gallery, I doubt you’d think twice. The golden swirls of cavatappi pasta cross the wide, white bowl like brushstrokes on canvas – it speaks to you. Too deep? Nah, I don’t think so.

Flavor: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Earthy, and a little on the muted side – I’d say that it’s a great start but could use some amplifying. On the other hand, this mac is more of a build-your-own style, so the flavor could be quite variable. The bell peppers that I chose as a topping (I regretfully noticed that green onion was an option only after I’d ordered, which would’ve been a great touch) were nicely roasted, and added to the earthiness of the mac. I was impressed by how well the flavor of an optional topping was incorporated.

Creaminess: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What’s interesting about his mac is that it was not only creamy, but remarkably silky smooth as well. I certainly can’t say that the smoothness of a cream sauce has ever caught my attention, so it has to get five stars.

Cheesiness: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The cheese was present but not a force, so again, the flavors were a bit on the muted side. Findlay Brewing Co. uses gruyere, sharp white cheddar, and monterey jack cheeses for their mac and cheese sauce, so a light tweaking to bring out more of those flavors would be an easy adjustment.

Texture:⭐️⭐️⭐️

It seems that breadcrumbs have tended to be a tipping point for me in terms of textural diversity, and this review is no exception. I noticed immediately that the breadcrumbs topping this dish were very finely ground, making them more of a soft dusting than a crunchy additive, so there wasn’t a vast array of texture.

Overall Experience:

Findlay Brewing is a cool new addition to the small town, and has a quirky menu with pretty great beer (and cocktails too)! Are you a fan of giant Jenga? Mac & Cheese? Savory sandwiches on a grilled glazed donut? Quality brews? Then you should give Findlay Brewing a shot the next time you’re driving through on your route to Florida! (Pardon my jab at THE great state of Ohio).